Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-06-18
CHAPTER XVIII.
co, woMANl

co, woMANi
Then followed silence for n minute or So
during which She appeared, il one might
judge from the almost angelic rapture OF he
face-for sho looked angelic sometimts--to b
plunged in a happy ecstasy. Suddenly, how
ever, a new thought struck her, and her eS
preston became the very reverse Of angelic.
almost had forgotten" she said, shat
woman Ustane. What is she to Kailikrates
his servant, or--p and she paused, and
her voice trembled.
| shrugged my shoulders III understand
that she Is wed to him according to the Gus.
tom Of the Amahaggcr," answered; "but
know notn
Her face grew dark as a thunder cloud.
Old as she was, Ayesha had not outlivcd
jealousy.
eThen there is an end, y she said; 'she must
die, even nowm
shay, nay" cried, "it would be wicked
crime, and from crime naught comes bui
what is evil For thy own sake do not this
deed."
as it, then, crime, 0 foolish man, to put
away that which stands between us and our
endsl Then is our life one long crime, my
Holly; for day by day we destroy that
we may live, since in this world none but the
strongest can endure"
But was deeply anxious to save Ustane,
whom liked and respected, from the dire
fate that oyershadowed her at the hands OF
her mighty rival So / made one more ap-
peal.
"Ayesha," said, "thou art too subtle for
me; but thou thyself hast told me that each
man should DO law unto himself and follow
the teaching Of his heart. Hath thy heart no
mercy toward her whose place thou wouldst
takel Bethink thee, as thou sayest-though
to me the thing is incredible-he whom thou
dasirest has returned to thee after many
years, and but now thou hast, as thou sayest
also, wrung him from the jaws of death.
Wilt thou celebrate his coming by the murder
Of one who loved him, and whom perchance
he loved-one, at any rate, who saved his life
for thee when the spears of thy slaves would
have made an end thereof Thou sayest also
that in past days thou didst grievously wrong
this man, that with thine own hand thou
didst STAY him because OF the Egyptian Amen
artas, whom he loved"
"How knowest thou that, 0 strangeri How
knowest thou that nama2 spoke it not to
thee" she broke in with cry, catching at
my arm.
@Pcrchance dreamed it," I answered
strange dreams do hover about these caves
of Kor. It seems that the dream was, in.
deed, q shadow Of truth. What came to thee
of thy mad crime?--two thousand years o.
waiting, was ii notl and now wouldst thou
repeat the historyl Say what thou wilt,
tell thee that evil will como OF it; for to him
who doeth, at tho least, good breeds good and
evil evil, even though In after days out Of
evil cometh good. Offenses must needs come
but WOO to him by whom the offense cometh
So said that Messiah Of whom spoke to thee
and it was truly said If thou slayest this in
nocent woman, say unto thee that thor
shalt DO accused, and pluck no fruit from
thine ancient tree Of love. Also, what
thinkest thou2 How will this man take thee
red handed from the slaughter Of her who
loved and tended hirn'"
"As to that" she answered, u have alrcad,
answered thoe! Had | slain thee rs well q.
her, yet should he love me, Holly, because h,
could not help himself, any more than thor
couldst help dying, IL by chance slow thee
0 Holly And yet may be there is truth II
what thou dost say; for in some way 4
presseth on my mind. II it may be, will
spare this woman; for have not told the,
that am not cruel for the sake OF cruelty.
love not to see suffering, or to cause it. Le
her come before me--quick, now, before my
mood changes and she hastily covered her
face with its gauzy wrapping.
Well pleased to have succeeded oven to thii
| extent, / passed out into tbe passage ant
called Ustane, whose white garment caught
sight of some yards away, hudded up agai1s
one of the earthenware lamps that wor,
placed at intervals along the tunnel. Sh,
rose and ran toward me.
sIs my lord deadl Oh, say not he Is dead
she cried, lifting her noble looking face. al
stained as IL was with tears, up TO me with al
air Of infinite beseeching that went stlaigh
to my heart.
"Nay, he hves,r answered aShe hail
saved him. Enter"
"She sighed deeply and. entered, and fel
upon her hands and knees, after the custom
OF the Amatagger people, in ths presence o.
the dread She.
"Stand, said Ayesha, in her coolest voice
aand como hither."
Ustanc obeyed, standing before her will
bowed head.
Then came pause, which she broke.
"who is this MANI she said, pointing TO th'
sleeping form OF Leo.
aThc man is my husband, she answered, Il
low voice.
@Who gave him TO thee for husbandr
II took him according TO the custom Of on
country, oh, She"
"Thou hast done evil. woman, In taking thi
nan, who Il a stranger. he Il not man o
tiina own race, and the custom fails. Listen
Perchance thou didst this thing through ig
ncrance; therefore, woman, do ] spare thes